Predatory fish for 29 gallon tank

[Clowning_Around72]

What smaller predatory or aggressive fish would work in a 29 gallon tank and preferably eat pellets and can be fed once a day?

 

[ndrwater]

Off the top of my head, anything that fits that bill will very quickly outgrow a 29 gallon tank.
Things that fit the bill for a VERY short period of time would be triggers and groupers.
Both can and will grow quickly and need to be re-homed sooner than you would probably like.
I might suggesting a different group of fish, or.. a bigger tank.

 

[James M]

Predator fish don’t eat pellets except puffers

 

[Tuffyyyyy]

Don’t think it eats pellets but you could get away with a dwarf lion for a while in that size tank.

 

[Maximizer]

Valentini puffer may be a good choice

 

[Clowning_Around72]

Valentini puffer may be a good choice

Can they be fed just pellets or do they need other food?

 

[Maximizer]

Can they be fed just pellets or do they need other food?

I think if you supplemented with some meaty foods you'd be fine

 

[JumboShrimp]

I have a Valentini puffer... very cute little guy. He eats flakes, nori off a clip, frozen meaty items, and pellets. In fact he eats pellets as they float, and off the bottom once they sink.

 

[lion king]

What is your interest in the term "predatory", just trying to get an idea of what you are really interested in. Sometimes using terms like a "predator tank" can be misleading, and even confusing. Most fish are predators, it's what they do in the wild, a true "predator tank" would be one where you are feeding live prey. Certain fish may hold a label as a predator; like lions, anglers, scorpionfish, even triggers. But when you put them in a glass cage and feed them pellets or from a stick, they really aren't predators anymore.

If I'm understand what you are looking for, yes I would agree a Valentini Puffer would work.

 

[James M]

Also no fish should just be fed pellets , they need a variety of foods

 

[Clowning_Around72]

Fish similar to freshwater cichlids and similar fish are prefered because I have always kept those type of fish

 

[eatbreakfast]

Fish similar to freshwater cichlids and similar fish are prefered because I have always kept those type of fish

Damsels are very similar to cichlids in being brightly colored, territorial, and hardy.

 

[Clowning_Around72]

How many damsels can I keep in a 29 gallon tank and how should I introduce them like all at once or spread out over time plus how many? I know damsels are reef safe can I keep a damsel only tank with a couple of easier corals?

 

[eatbreakfast]

How many damsels can I keep in a 29 gallon tank and how should I introduce them like all at once or spread out over time plus how many? I know damsels are reef safe can I keep a damsel only tank with a couple of easier corals?

If you went with smaller, peaceful species such as kupang, talbots, springeri, and rolland you could probably do 5. Add the all simultaneously. You could definitely do a damsel only tank with easy corals.

 

[Clowning_Around72]

Could a tank take that bioload all at once?

 

[eatbreakfast]

Could a tank take that bioload all at once?

Yes, if you "feed" the tank an ammonia source so that the bacteria population can handle it.

 

[Clowning_Around72]

Ok thank you could I mix the damsels species?

 

[eatbreakfast]

Ok thank you could I mix the damsels species?

Yup.

 

[Clowning_Around72]

Yup.

Any non damsel cichlid like fish that will work with damsels any other aggressive fish that will work will any smaller puffers work?

 

[lion king]

A flame hawkfish is one of my favorite aggressive fish for a small tank. They don't have a swim bladder so they are not active swimmers, they perch most of the time.. They are very nice looking and can be sneaky deadly. The problem with aggressive fish in a small tank, is just that, a small tank. Maybe a small puffer, a hawkfish, and damsel or two. the color combo would be awesome; be careful not to over stock. The puffer would likely nip on the corals, some say they are reef safe, i say not. Of the small puffers, I would say the toby leopard or the valentini would be best for your size tank, the blue spotted is a popular small puffer that would likely be too large for your tank.